Does the Total Gym Burn Belly Fat?

The Total Gym is a resistance training exercise equipment option. There are three home models to choose from; each take up little space and two of the models can accommodate someone who weighs up to 400 pounds. This machine is an excellent option if you need to lose weight while protecting your joints from the harsh impact associated with other aerobic weight loss methods. Through its design, the Total Gym will help you burn through fat.

  1. Resistance Training Over Cardio

    • Research continues to find that resistance training is a more efficient option for weight loss than long steady-state cardio sessions. If you engage in resistance training on the Total Gym, not only will the energy you expend contribute to burning fat, but you will develop lean body mass. In the long-term, lean body mass further encourages your body to burn fat through an elevated metabolic rate. The actual amount of calories you burn depends on your weight, metabolism and exercise intensity. On average, however, a 200-pound person could expect to burn around 312 calories in a 30-minute Total Gym session or 624 calories in an hour. To estimate your personal caloric expenditure, use an Online calorie burn calculator.

    Designed to Burn Fat

    • The Total Gym offers up to 85 exercise options. You can switch exercises quickly which allows you to develop a circuit training workout. Circuit training means performing various strength training exercises in a row with no rest. Many research studies, such as one published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports," have demonstrated the benefits of circuit training for weight loss over aerobic exercise. Circuit training takes little time, but results in longer post-exercise metabolic rates than other forms of training. This makes your exercise efforts work for you throughout the day. While no exercise can promise fat loss specifically from your belly region, if you use Total Gym for a circuit workout you can alter your body composition and overall burn fat. Guidelines for both overweight and obese individuals suggest performing a circuit three days a week and doing 15 to 20 repetitions per exercise.

    Style of the Workout

    • The Total Gym combines body weight training and a cable machine. Your weight and the incline of the Total Gym determine the resistance. The cable system causes the weight to move smoothly and in the correct plane of motion for each exercise. This combination incorporates the core and stability into every movement, which recruits more muscles for each exercise. The more muscles recruited, the more work your body does, and the more energy you expend.

    Burn Fat at any Level

    • Running or jumping around in a group class can be uncomfortable when you are over a certain weight. The Total Gym, however, can be used no matter your fitness level; it offers up to 12 different levels of incline, or resistance. If you are looking to burn fat, but have never exercised before, leave the machine parallel to the ground for your workout. As you require an additional challenge to keep losing weight, the Total Gym will adapt with you. Increase the incline to increase the amount of weight you lift in your workouts so that you continue to steadily burn fat.